This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2022 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2022 NFL Draft Stock Up
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State Watson was a good player for the Bison, but the Tampa, Florida native set his draft stock on fire with an excellent Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 211-pounder showed good speed and run-after-the catch ability to go along with mismatch size. In 2021, Watson caught 43 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown and 114 yards over 15 carries. Watson showed big-play ability in 2020 – 24.3 yards per catch – and 2019 – 21.5 yards per catch. After his impressive week in Mobile, Watson looks like he could up as an early second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington Team sources recently told WalterFootball.com that Gordon was in play for their teams early in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Scouts like how Gordon can line up outside or in the slot with smooth cover skills. They feel he has versatile size, good technique, and physicality. The only thing missing from Gordon’s skill set is elite speed, and if he had that, he would be a top-10 pick. Still, NFL scources believe Gordon could be a good value early in the second round and turn into a solid starter as a pro.
Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn At the Senior Bowl, NFL team sources shared some high opinions on McCreary with WalterFootball.com. That led to us reaching out to sources in the days afterward to follow up. “I think he goes in the top 20,” said a director of player personnel. “Hard to find corners that can cover man-to-man like him.”
That was, however, the highest projection for McCreary in a survey of team sources. Two director of college scouting said their teams had a projection of between late first-round or early second-round pick on McCreary. Four sources from different teams said they had McCreary as a second-round pick. “I worry about him on the outside a little,” said a Southeast area scout for an AFC team. “He’s good in man-to-man, but you can’t fix not having length. I graded him in the second and think he goes in the second.” It will only take one team to fall in love, however, so a team could pull the trigger on McCreary on the opening night of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan Goedeke is a tough interior blocker with good size and strength. At the point of attack, he is a mean presence who really fights and competes. The 6-foot-4, 318-pounder has good size and average length for a guard – 33.13-inch arms. Some team sources like Goedeke more than Central Michigan teammate Bernhard Raimann.
Quay Walker, LB, Georgia There some are projections of Walker being a first-round pick next April, and some NFL team sources prefer Walker to other highly touted linebackers like Nakobe Dean and Damone Cox. Walker has good size and speed to go along with physicality. Those sources feel Walker is more explosive than Cox and tougher than Dean. If Walker works out well at the combine, he could continue to rise.
George Pickens, WR, Georgia Multiple NFL team sources say if Pickens did not suffer an ACL tear in the spring of 2021, they believe he would have been a definite first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickens could have focused on the 2022 NFL Draft, but he worked hard to come back and contribute in the final games of Georgia’s National Championship run. With his good size, speed and athleticism, Pickens has the skill set of a potential No. 1 receiver. He could be a high second-round pick this April, according to multiple team sources.
2022 NFL Draft Stock Down
Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky Kinnard had some highlights and lowlights at the Senior Bowl. There were some feast-or-famine moments, as he had wins and some ugly loses. Kinnard has good size and moves well for being a big, thick tackle, but he definitely has things he needs to clean up to avoid being beaten up at the NFL level and putting his quarterback in harms way. The Senior Bowl week made Kinnard look like a definite second-day candidate for the 2022 NFL Draft rather than one with late first-round potential.
Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati Pierce started Senior Bowl week well, but as the practices progressed, he faded. While Pierce has good height and straight-line speed, he has some tightness as a route runner, and that was evident going against the all-star cornerbacks. For Pierce to rebound, he is going to need to have good workouts leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft.
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